Worker are more likely to come into contact with asbestos because of recession
Posted on November 11th 2009
Industry experts believe that over the coming months joiners are at a higher risk of coming into contact with asbestos. The reason for this is that during the time of the UK economic downturn it is cheaper for contractors to refurbish older houses than newer ones. It is the older houses that where primarily built using asbestos as an insulator that has led to thousands of workers deaths. Inhalation of asbestos fibres causes mesothelioma that is a deadly form of cancer and it is only over the past few years that asbestos is removed using haz-mat suits and oxygen masks.
This prediction comes after the recent media attention surrounding the thousands of deaths that the aptly named time bomb killer has claimed. This month the Health and Safety Executive are running their 'hidden killer' campaign. £1.2 million of funding is to be used to raise awareness and training on dealing and identifying asbestos.
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